Sponsorship

Funding a FIRST robotics team is no small task. Local companies and professionals are the life blood that keeps the Aluminum Falcons soaring. We are grateful for the sponsors who have supported us year to year as we continue to grow and impact the community. If you are not currently a sponsor, please consider becoming a partner with FIRST Team 2168–the Aluminum Falcons.

Team Address:

Aluminum Falcon Robotics

Robert E. Fitch Senior High School

101 Groton Long Point Road

Groton, CT 06340

Team Contact:

Brian Chidley

Faculty Advisor

Email: bchidley@groton.k12.ct.us

Voicemail: 860-449-7200 ext 2218

Aluminum Falcon Robotics Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. All donations are tax-deductable. Supporting documents and receipts are available on request.

Checks should be made payable to “Aluminum Falcon Robotics.”

Our Current Sponsors

FIRST Team 2168 would like to thank each of the organizations and businesses that have helped us accomplish our goals and reach out in our community last year and already this year. Without you we would not be able to educate, reach out, compete, or win. Thank You. For more information on FIRST Team 2168's sponsorship levels used below, please (click here).

ALUMINUM PARTNERS

Pfizer

At Pfizer, the application of science and their global resources are used to improve health and well-being at every stage of life. Pfizer strives to set the standard for quality, safety and value in the discovery, development and manufacturing of medicines for people and animals. Pfizer's diversified global healthcare portfolio includes human and animal biologic and small molecule medicines and vaccines, as well as nutritional products and many of the world's best-known consumer products. With their research headquarters based in Groton, Pfizer is the keystone corporation for our town and community. The Pfizer Foundation contributes to the team through their volunteer incentive program and through matching gifts from employees. Pfizer also has allowed the use of crucial electrical materials used in the Groton District FIRST Robotics Competition.

Thanks to the generous suppor from the Pfizer Foundation and even more support from Pfizer employees, the Aluminum Falcons will be attending the 2017 FIRST in New England District Championship Event (pending qualification).

DoDSTEM (Formerly NDEP)

At the Department of Defense, our people are the military's most enduring advantage. DoD continually seeks to increase development of a representative, world-class STEM talent pool capable of filling our workforce needs and providing continuous access to STEM talent throughout the Nation. Groton is the "Submarine Capital of the World," and we here are all part of that extended Navy family.

Thanks to the sponsorship from DoDSTEM, the Aluminum Falcons have attending the 2015 and 2016 World Championship FIRST Robotics Compeittion in St. Louis. We hope to repeat again in 2017.

Groton Utilities

Groton Utilities is a municipally owned and operated utility providing Electric and Water services to thousands of consumers in Southeastern Connecticut. As a leader in Southeastern Connecticut, G-U provides essential electric, water and other services at prices which reflect exceptional customer value and quality. G-U enhances and supports the vitality and livability of the communities they serve.

We are excited to have Groton Utilities as an Aluminum Partner this year. We are thrilled to have the ssupport of our home-town energy company, and we hope to continue this relationship for years. Thanks to their support, the Aluminum Falcons will be attending the 2017 Rhode Island District Event in March.

Google

Google is an American multinational technology company specializing in Internet-related services and products that include online advertising technologies, search, cloud computing, software, and hardware. Google’s mission is to organize the world’s information and make it universally accessible and useful.

If you would like more information about Google, just search, online. You know how to do that, don't you?

Thanks to the support from Google, the Aluminum Falcons will be travelling outside the New England District to the Bridgewater, NJ, Event in the Mid-Atlantic District.

Hubble Incorporated

Hubbell Incorporated was founded by Harvey Hubbell as a proprietorship in 1888, and was incorporated in Orange, Connecticut in 1905. Hubbell Incorporated began its journey in the late 1800’s when its founder, Harvey Hubbell, developed tooling and equipment to serve the growing demand for new assembly and manufacturing machinery during the industrial revolution. Today, Hubble continues the tradition of growth and innovation that was founded than a century ago. Hubble is focused on delivering high quality, dependable products. Hubble works with channel partners to deliver products to market while a network of distributors and retailers provide sales support, local inventory and expertise for the end-consumer worldwide.

Thanks to sponsorship from Hubble, the Aluminum Falcons will be competing at the SouthEast Massachusettes District Event in March.

Groton Education Foundation

The GEF is a non-profit organization which supports educational innovation and excellence within the Groton Community.

The GEF provide teachers, librarians and educational institutions in the Groton Community with resources to pilot learning projects and develop new learning processes. Since 1997, the GEF has provided over $155,000 to educators in our community to expand the learning horizons of our children.

Thanks to the Grant received from GEF, the Aluminum Falcons will be heightening its outreach programs in our town, across Southeastern CT, and anywhere else we go, especially the CIAC Connecticut State Championship Competition in May.

Hillery Company

For over 50 years, the Hillery Company has offered the best in custom metal fabrication with an array of manufacturing services to northeast companies, including defense, pharmaceutical, paper, wire & textile manufacturing. With complete metal fabrication capabilities, Hillery offers their clients the ultimate metal fabrication services.

Since the beginning of the Aluminum Falcons, the Hillery Company has produced professional-quality parts for our robots, including the entire chassis of 2011's Talyn In past seasons they outdid themselves by preparing many intricate sheet-metal parts for our competition-winning robots Talyn (2011), Fat Swan (2012), Phoenix (2013), Lance (2014), Talyn Evolution--aka "Reggie" (2015), T-Bird--aka "Jimmy Talon"(2016). The value of their contribution puts Hillery among our top sponsors, and we are fortunate to have their support.

General Dynamics--Applied Physical Sciences

Applied Physical Sciences Corp. is a Research, Development and Engineering consulting firm specializing in Acoustics, Signal Processing, Marine Hydrodynamics and Electromagnetics. APS provides services and innovative products to the National Defense R&D community, and also for the commercial market through direct commercial support and the Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) program. Roughly half of APS's technical staff hold PhDs in Engineering, Physics and Mathematics.

APS became the team's first "Aluminum Partner" in the 2012 season; with their assistance, our attendance at the Connecticut Regional FIRST Robotics Competition was possible that year. APS also supported us when we first attended the World Championship FIRST Robotics Competition in St. Louis. In addition to monetary support, APS makes available their fabrication capabilities during the build season. 2017 is the FIfth season with APS as a sponsor.

NVIDIA

NVIDIA's invention of the GPU in 1999 sparked the growth of the PC gaming market, redefined modern computer graphics, and revolutionized parallel computing. More recently, GPU deep learning ignited modern AI — the next era of computing.The GPU has proven to be unbelievably effective at solving some of the most complex problems in computer science. It started out as an engine for simulating human imagination, conjuring up the amazing virtual worlds of video games and Hollywood films. Today, NVIDIA’s GPU simulates human intelligence, running deep learning algorithms and acting as the brain of computers, robots, and self-driving cars that can perceive and understand the world. NVIDIA is increasingly known as “the AI computing company.”

J Steele Services

J Steele Services LLC was founded in 2009 in Mystic, Connecticut. They are a local fabrication facility which manufactures structural steel and other metal products for structural purposes. J Steele provides crucial, quick-turnaround fabrication of CAD-designed components of our competiton robot duirng the all-too-short build season. Without their support, our robot would not be able to do much at all.

R-D Manufacturing

Incoporated in 1984, R-D has continuously adapted to stay ahead of ever-changing needs of our customers. Originally organized as a straight made-to-order job shop, R-D has developed into a contract manufacturing house offering a spectrum of services from concept development through inventory control strategies.

R-D has offered access to their machining facilities to quicken the turnaround time for the fabrication of components designed by our team. This is the first year of sponsorship from R-D, and we look forward to significant use of their machinery.

SolidWorks

Dassault Systèmes SolidWorks Corp. offers complete 3D software tools that let you create, simulate, publish, and manage your data. SolidWorks products are easy to learn and use, and work together to help you design products better, faster, and more cost-effectively. The SolidWorks focus on ease-of-use allows more engineers, designers and other technology professionals than ever before to take advantage of 3D in bringing their designs to life.

Since 2012 this sponsor has provided our CAD Crew with a powerful software used to design all of our award-winning robots.

MathWorks

MathWorks is the developer of MATLAB and Simulink, the leading mathematical computing software for engineering and scientists. MathWorks software has been the preferred mathematical computing software of our engineering mentors for several years. In using this software, the Aluminum Falcons won the "Innovation in Control Award" at several FIRST Robotics Competiiton events, including twice at the New England DIstrict Championship (2014 & 2015) and most recently at the World Championship Event (2016). MathWorks has provided their professional-grade software to the team without charge. Recently, the Aluminum Falcons have been honored by being inculded in MathWorks "Winners Circle."

Mystic Women's Club

The Mystic Women's Club (MWC) was established in 1967 as part of the General Federation of Women's Club (GFWC).Their goals include promoting all aspects of education, with the goal of a more literatesociety. The Mystic Woman's Club seeks women in the Southeastern Connecticut area who want to share the satisfaction of working to improve our community. This is our fourth season of receiving sponsorship from MWC.

Davis-Standard

Davis-Standard, headquartered in Pawcatuck, Connecticut, USA, is the global leader in the design and manufacturing of high-performance plastics and rubber processing equipment, extrusion technology and converting systems. They are committed to engineering equipment that is cost effective, durable, and offers a high return on investment. Systems encompass over 10 product lines to support manufacturing applications and customers within every major industry. This is the first year of having Davis-Standard as a sponsor of our team, and we look forward to a long-term partnership.

Constellation

Constellation is a leading competetive energy company providing power, natural gas, renewable energy, and energy management products and services for homes and businesses across the continental United Sates. 2017 is the first year of receiving sponsorship from Constellation, and the team looks forward to developing this association.

Redfin

Redfin is the modern way to buy or sell a home. Redfin's mission is to redefine real estate in the customer's favor. That means utilizing the most up to date technology to browse for your next home on our website while also employing Redfin agents who put the customer first. Redfin strives to save our customer's money by offering a standard refund at closing while sellers pay just half the typical listing fee. This is real estate designed just for you!

Established in 1899, Electric Boat has established standards of excellence in the design, construction and lifecycle support of submarines for the U.S. Navy. Primary operations are the shipyard in Groton, CT, the automated hull-fabrication and outfitting facility in Quonset Point, RI, and an engineering building in New London, CT. The current workforce is more than 11,000 employees. Electric Boat is a long time supporter of FIRST Robotics in Connecticut.

EB is a cornerstone of the economy and community here in Groton. Thanks to the volunteering mentors from EB, the Aluminum Falcons are able to fly.